1. Use a room arrangement consistent with your instructional goals and activities.
Both classrooms can be advantageous to instructional goals and activities depending on the teacher and their lessons.
Classroom #1 has an arrangement more conducive to individual learning and activities. This arrangement would work well for quickly pairing up to create partners.
Classroom #2 has an arrangement more conducive to group work. In this arrangement, students could quickly separate to be seated individually.
2. Keep high-traffic areas free of congestion.
Classroom #1
Classroom #1 has limited space for the teacher and students to walk around the classroom.
Classroom #1 limits students from easily accessing the teachers desk and student supplies.
Classroom #1 allows the teacher to easily access their materials, including materials located on their shelves.
Classroom #2
Classroom #2 has more room for the teacher to walk around, which allows for the teacher to readily assist students.
Classroom #2 allows students to easily access the teachers desk and student materials.
Classroom #2 limits the teacher from easily accessing their materials located on the shelves.
3. Be sure students are easily seen by the teacher.
If the teacher is standing at the front of the classroom, both classrooms allow teacher to see all students.
If the teacher is seated at their desk, classroom #1 prevents the teacher from seeing students located in the back corner of the classroom.
Classroom #2 allows for the teacher to see all students most of the time. The only possibility that the teacher would not see all students is if the teacher is located at the first set of grouped desks; they may not be able to see students in the back corner.
4. Keep frequently used teaching materials and student supplies readily accessible.
Student materials are located on the "Student Table" in both classrooms.
Classroom #1
Due to the limited space to move about the classroom, classroom #1 limits students from easily accessing the teachers desk and student supplies.
Classroom #1 allows the teacher to easily access their materials, including materials located on their shelves.
Classroom #2
Classroom #2 has more room for the teacher to walk around, which allows for the teacher to readily assist students.
Classroom #2 allows students to easily access the teachers desk and student materials.
Classroom #2 limits the teacher from easily accessing their materials located on the shelves.
5. Be certain students can easily see instructional presentations and displays.
Classroom #1 has the overhead projector in front of an entire row of desks. This location of the projector could interfere with numerous students' instructional views.
Classroom #2 has the overhead projector in almost the same location. However, the students' desks are arranged differently which could allow for less obstruction of instructional views.
*NOTE*
Left - Classroom #1
Right - Classroom #2
Five Keys to Good Room Arrangement
1. Use a room arrangement consistent with your instructional goals and activities.
2. Keep high-traffic areas free of congestion.
3. Be sure students are easily seen by the teacher.
4. Keep frequently used teaching materials and student supplies readily accessible.
5. Be certain students can easily see instructional presentations and displays.